California Beach Festivals, Events

Beach festivals in California run in the hundreds and range from 4th of July Fireworks on the Beach,  Concerts on the Beach, Movies on the Beach to event Shakespeare by the Sea.

Beach music festivals include dozens: Avila Beach Blues Festival overlooking the beach, Doheny Beach Blues Festival and music festivals in San Diego, Ventura, Huntington Beach and throughout the state.

CARMEL: 55th Annual Sandcastle September 21, 2019,  8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Carmel Beach
Scenic, south of 10th
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
ci.carmel.ca.us or aiamontereybay.org

SAN FRANCISCO: Ocean Beach LEAP Sandcastle Contest October 26, 2019, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA
leaparts.org | leapsandcastleclassic.org

NEWPORT BEACH: Sandcastle Contest September 29, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Corona del Mar State Beach
3100 Ocean Blvd.
Corona del Mar, CA
$30-up, newportbeach.com/ events/58th-annual-sandcastle-contest/

OCEANSIDE: Harbor Days Festival September 21-22, 2019, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside, CA
Free, oceansidechamber.com | kennedyfaires.com
In the water and on the sand, the wonderful beach festival includes boat building and racing, games, contests, food vendors, musical entertainment and the famous Oceanside sunshine (no guarantees, but 99% sure).

PACIFICA: Pacific Coast Fog Fest  September 28-29, 2019
On the sand, this event celebrates the Bay Area's foggy coast with events ranging from a fun run, parade and sandcastle building to a ton of games. The foggier, the better!

CAPITOLA: Beach Festival September 28-29, 2019
capitolachamber.com
Nautical light parade, sand sculpture contest, chalk art, fishing derby, horseshoes, 3K run.

BERKELEY: Berkeley Kite Festival July 27-28, 2019
Berkeley Marina
Berkeley, CA
Free

CAPITOLA: Capitola Art & Wine Festival September 14-15, 2019
After Labor Day Weekend Annual Capitola Begonia Festival
Free, capitolachamber.com
While some of the action is in the ocean and bay, the sand is the place to play at this beloved annual festival where thousands come to celebrate the arts -- and wine! Concerts are part of the fun.

PORT HUENEME: Banana Festival September 28, 2019, 10 a.m. - 6 pm.
Port of Hueneme
Harbor District
105 East Port Hueneme Road
Port Hueneme, CA
Free, BananaPortFest.com

ENCINITAS: Holiday Street Fair November 24, 2019, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
kennedyfaires.com/encinitas

GOLETA: California Lemon Festival September 28-29, 2019

HALF MOON BAY: Art & Pumpkin Festival October 19-20, 2019

SOLANA BEACH: SaltDog Classic October 20, 2019, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Seaside State Beach, just south of Cardiff by the Sea
2526 S. Coast Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA
$10, 12 & under or 65+ get in free, saltdogclassic.com
This family beach is dog and kid friendly event on the beach and sands of Southern California's favorite beach destinations. Beach etiquette requires you keep dog messes cleaned up so everyone can always enjoy the beach and have a great time.  If you have a fury friend, bring a leash. Great music and beach activities happening.

CARMEL: Art Festival and Sculpture in the Park 

CHULA VISTA: Chula Vista Harbor Fest August 17, 2019
Bayside Park
Chula Vista, California
Tickets: chulavistaca.gov | cvharborfest.com
Music, food, entertainment with the beach nearby.

DANA POINT: Doheny Blues Festival May 18-19, 2019
dohenybluesfestival.com

DANA POINT: Doheny Surf & Art Festival June 22-23, 2019
dohenystatebeach.org

DEL MAR: San Diego County Fair May 31-July 4, 2019

ENCINITAS: Moonlight Beach BRO-AM Beach Fest June 29, 2019, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
broam.org
Surf contests, concerts and a whole lot of fun directly on the sand at the quintessential California beach, Moonlight.

HERMOSA BEACH: Fiesta Hermosa August 31-September 2, 2019
Big, semi-annual beach festival anchored near Hermosa Beach Pier and the street includes vendors selling crafts, clothes, art, foods and more. Bands perform throughout, and bike valet helps accommodate the thousands of bicycle riders parking at the event.  Produced by Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce

HERMOSA BEACH, MANHATTAN BEACH, REDONDO BEACH, TORRANCE International Surf Festival July 31-August 4, 2019
This is an on-the-sand and in-the-ocean five day beach festival featuring the greatest talents in a variety of beach sports and athletic competitions.
Presented by BEACHSPORT.org, the Chambers of Commerce and Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Department of Beaches and Harbors. surffestival.org

HUNTINGTON BEACH: US Open of Surfing July 27-August 4, 2019
The surfing competition includes a beach festival on the sand featuring vendor booths, multiple sports arenas with bleacher seating and the grand finale on August 4, 2019, determining who gets the cool cash for the surfing contest.

IMPERIAL BEACH: Sun & Sea Festival July 13, 2019
sunandseafestival.com

LA JOLLA: Art & Wine Festival October 12-13, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Girard Avenue (between Prospect Street & Torrey Pines Road)
Free admission, well behaved pets on leash allowed
ljawf.com

PISMO BEACH: Clam Festival October 18-20, 2019
Some events at this festival are on the sand, and some are right next to it. Clam chowder, surfing, beach games, contests and a whole lot of fun at this annual event that keeps tourists returning to Pismo, once the epicenter of clamming.

SAN DIEGO: Pacific Beach Fest October 5, 2019, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
 Free, pacificbeachfest.org
Shop Local | 5K Run | Music | Craft Beer | Kids Zone | Family Fun
Located on the Boardwalk from Felspar to Thomas Street
The festival takes place one day, but there's a related beer event leading into the daytime fest. This is a beach event with a storied history. It was so big and wild at one time that they had to scale back and slow things down. Now, it's a respectable family-oriented beach festival -- yes, on the sand! Schedule for the 

LONG BEACH: Love Long Beach July 27-28, 2019
Shoreline Aquatic Park
Long Beach, CA
$15-30, lovelongbeachfestival.com
The annual two day festival now in its 6th edition, features DJs, music, arts and crafts, food court, vendors, yoga, sound healing and much more! Kid and family friendly, all ages are welcome! Mega fun for everyone. Shoreline Aquatic Park is near the sand but not on it.

LONG BEACH: Pirate Festival June 29-30, 2019, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Shoreline Aquatic Park
Belmont Shore, CA
Free, alfredosbeachclub.com | pirateinvasionlongbeach.com
Held on the sand this cool event features Tiki Dancers, Fire Show, Polynesian Food Court, Island Marketplace and Live Hawaiian Music. Held in honor of and love for Fred Khammar, long-time owner of Alfredo's Beach Club, who passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 27, 2016. His family is now operating the business and trying to keep the flame alive with all the great events Fred created. 

LONG BEACH: Long Beach BBQ Festival August 16-18, 2019
Rainbow Lagoon
Shoreline Drive
Long Beach, CA
$5-up, longbeachbbqfestival.com
Not directly on the beach but overlooking the harbor and across the street beach access, the event is ideally situated in a park where sands not going to get in the BBQ you come here for.

MENDOCINO: Mendocino Music Festival July 13-27, 2019

MORRO BAY: AvoMargFest September 7, 2019
On the Waterfront
714 Embarcadero Drive
Embarcadero & Pacific
Morro Bay, California
 avomargfest.com

PACIFIC GROVE: Feast of Lanterns July 19-28, 2019

PEBBLE BEACH: Concours d'Elegance August 18, 2019

POINT REYES: Point Reyes National Seashore Big Time Festival Saturday, July 20, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Free, nps.gov/pore or mapom.org
Kule Loklo Highway 1, via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or Point Reyes/Petaluma Road Point Reyes, CA
Activities near the sand and on at this annual festival at one of Marin County's favorite beaches.

REDONDO BEACH: Summer Festival June 28-30, 2019
Riviera Village
Redondo Beach, CA
Music all day long, vendors, food, beverages and the Pacific Ocean within view!

SAN CLEMENTE: Ocean Festival July 20-21, 2019
Free, oceanfestival.org
EVENTS  California Waterman & Waterwoman Championship Surf Race to Victory SUP Cross 5 K Beach Run

SAND CITY: West End Celebration August 23-25, 2019

SAN DIEGO: Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival June 22, 2019
oceanbeachsandiego.com
Not directly on the beach but held on the street right next to the beach and famous OB Pier, this event is about eating chili, listening to bands and shopping the  vendor fair. If you want the beach, it's like 20 steps away.

SAN DIEGO: U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge August 31-September 2, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO: North Beach Festival June 15-16, 2019
not on a beach, however,  it's on San Francisco's city streets
Free, sresproductions.com

SAN FRANCISCO: Fleet Week Festival October 6-14, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO: Wharf Fest & Chowder Competition October 19, 2019, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
San Francisco, CA Street Festival
Free, sresproductions.com

SANTA BARBARA: Summer Solstice Celebration June 21-23, 2019

SANTA CRUZ: Friday Night Bands on the Beach Every Friday, June 14 - August 30, 2019. Rock out to Top 40 bands from the '70s, '80s, and early '90s FREE on the Beach Bandstand! Two free shows each Friday! 6:30pm and 8:30pm beachboardwalk.com

SANTA CRUZ: Aloha Races and Polynesian Festival August 18, 2019, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Santa Cruz, CA
Free, cityofsantacruz.com
On the sand and in the Pacific Ocean, the annual Aloha Races and Polynesian Festival celebrates the history of the Three Hawaiian Princes who first rode redwood surf boards at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River during the summer of 1885, years before the Wharf was built in 1914. Our Hawaiian connections continue to this day via the Aloha Outrigger Races and Polynesian Festival. Designed especially for new and novice paddlers, the Celebrity races are a chance to discover the excitement of outrigger canoe racing. Join the fun or cheer for friends in the race. The Polynesian Festival follows with a taste of the tropics fresh flower leis, shave ice, and dance performances.

SOLANA BEACH: Fiesta del Sol May May 18-19, 2019
Solana Beach, CA
Free, solanabeachchamber.com | fiestadelsol.net

SUNSET BEACH: Mother's Day Weekend Art Festival  May 11-12, 2019. (Mother's Day Weekend)
Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.. Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.. Community Center 17222 South Pacific Ave. and along the Greenbelt Sunset Beach , CA 90742
sunsetbeachca.org (714) 335- 5034. Sunset Beach Art Festival is a free admission event on the community greenbelt just 20 steps from the sandy beach. Beautiful!

VENTURA Surf Rodeo July 13-14, 2019
$40-up, surfrodeo.org
This is a sand and sun-soaked festival of beach sports, music, and food & beverages. Life doesn't get much better that Surf Rodeo.

CAMBRIA: Pinedorado Days

NEWPORT BEACH: Lobster Festival August 11, 2019 at Civic Center (new location, not Newport Dunes Aquatic Park)

OXNARD: Salsa Festival July 

SAN FRANCISCO: North Beach Festival

SAN DIEGO: Big Bay Boom July 4

AVILA BEACH Beach Blues Festival 
otterproductionsinc.com

DANA POINT Festival of Whales 

Dana Wharf 34675 Golden Lantern Dana Point, CA 92629. dpfestivalofwhales.com

AVILA BEACH: Central Coast Oyster Festival July

SANTA CRUZ: Woodies on the Wharf June

ALAMEDA: Neptune Beach Island Jam 
Webster Street (between Pacific & Central Avenues)
Alameda, California
neptunebeachcc.com

DANA POINT: Food, Wine & Music Festival June  Doheny Surf Festival June 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.